Congress preparations well underway

The 2012 World Conservation Congress Preparatory Committee (CPC), established by IUCN Council to provide strategic guidance for the preparations of the Congress, held its first meeting at the IUCN Conservation Centre, on 17 November 2010. The meeting took place just a few weeks after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding outlining the strategic plan for the World Conservation Congress to be held in Jeju, Republic of Korea, from 6-15 September 2012.

The CPC is composed of IUCN Council members, representatives of the host country from the Ministry of Environment and the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, and the Chair of the Korea National Committee.

Under the chairmanship of Miguel Pellerano, Regional Councillor for Meso and South America, the discussions of the CPC focused on the Congress slogan, the framework for Congress registration fees and the establishment of the Resolutions Working Group of Council.

The CPC also discussed the outcomes of the 2008 Congress evaluation and agreed on the key principles that will guide the design of the Forum. They recognized that it is important for the IUCN Programme to leverage the strategic influencing potential of the Congress in the areas of biodiversity conservation, climate change, energy, livelihoods and green economy. In addition, the Congress must provide a space for debate and the development of consensus on conservation issues, as well as for the showcasing of new concepts and evidence on the topic of resilience.

On the recommendation of the Congress Preparatory Committee, the IUCN Council, meeting from 18-20 November 2010, approved the selected Congress slogan, which will now be further developed to be used in upcoming Congress Communications. Watch this space!

Held every four years, the IUCN World Conservation Congress is the world’s most important international conservation event. The 2012 Congress aims to put nature and conservation at the top of the global agenda.